“Didn’t you just say I have no flaws? Were you lying to me?”
“…!”
Did the heavens give you a scholar’s brain just so you could bully people like this?
Wen Ying was stumped.
“Wipe it off.”
Xie Qian handed her a tissue, pointing to her mouth to indicate she had ice cream on it.
“Don’t rush. We only have a rough idea of what kind of person Zhao Dong is, but beyond that, we know nothing about how many cards he holds, how much influence he can wield, or what his most profitable business is. How can we take him on?”
Xie Qian’s words calmed Wen Ying’s impatience.
“You mean—”
“I mean, whether it’s a day earlier or later, it won’t affect our plans. Let’s just have fun today. Which ride do you want to try?”
Xie Qian was so composed that Wen Ying, to save face, picked the most thrilling one.
But during the intense spins in mid-air, her stomach churned, her head pounded, and she nearly vomited on the spot.
Xie Qian, on the other hand, emerged unscathed—his hair merely tousled by the wind, no screaming, no nausea. When they got off, Wen Ying’s legs were wobbly, and she had to lean on Xie Qian for support.
After tackling two more thrilling rides, Wen Ying finally raised the white flag, collapsing onto a bench in the amusement park, gasping for breath.
Xie Qian bought her a bottle of water. Wen Ying gulped down half of it, panting, “I declare you the winner!”
“Coming out to have fun and still being so competitive—what’s there to win? But where were you planning to take me before?”
Xie Qian sat beside Wen Ying, who instinctively straightened her back.
“I was going to take you to see pandas!”
The adorable, roly-poly pandas were Sichuan’s tourism trump card. The national treasure could charm both domestic and international visitors. Even if they didn’t hit Xie Qian’s cute-spot, they surely wouldn’t bore him.
As a first-time “tour guide” showing Xie Qian around Chengdu, taking him to see pandas was a safe bet for this “side gig.”
Xie Qian nodded. “It’s a bit of a shame we didn’t go. Let’s save it for next time.”
Huh?!
There’s a next time?
Wen Ying felt something was off.
Xie Qian was innocent, treating her as a friend.
But spending so much time alone like this—Wen Ying was afraid she wouldn’t be able to hold herself back!
After spending most of the day at the amusement park, Wen Ying noticed a few young girls secretly snapping photos of Xie Qian with their phones. Only then did she say she was tired and wanted to head back.
They had done plenty of rides, and with food and snacks, Wen Ying spent just over 300 yuan. She still had some of the 640 yuan from her manuscript fee left, more than enough for a panda trip next time. Besides, in the meantime, she’d likely earn more from new submissions.
On the way back, neither mentioned Zhao Dong again.
Xie Qian had his plans, and Wen Ying had hers.
Xie Qian asked someone to look into Zhao Dong’s affairs abroad, while Wen Ying could investigate his activities in China.
She’d been overthinking, assuming that she and Zhao Dong were worlds apart in wealth and connections, making him untouchable for now. Foolish! Why pit her weaknesses against Zhao Dong’s strengths? She should start from her own strengths.
Zhao Dong was driven by profit and had a domineering personality. Since returning to China to do business, he might have crossed some legal lines.
With the country cracking down harder on tax compliance—two years ago, a major celebrity was caught for tax evasion—if Zhao Dong had taken similar risks, Wen Ying could seize the chance to bring him down.
After parting with Xie Qian at the bus stop, Wen Ying called Detective Luo.
“Detective Luo, long time no see. How’s business?”
Thanks to Wen Ying, Detective Luo had landed a long-term job from Deng Shangwei. Deng was generous, and with his payments, Luo had recently moved his detective agency to a new location, rebranding it as a “consulting firm” as Wen Ying suggested. He’d also hired two retired military buddies to help, and the firm was thriving.
Luo was very grateful to Wen Ying.
Since meeting her, his career had taken off. If he hadn’t swallowed his pride to take her case back then, his agency would’ve shut down long ago for unpaid rent.
Wen Ying never called without a reason, and when her call came, Luo knew she had new business for him.
As expected, Wen Ying was bringing him money.
But this job was different—it involved digging into the “criminal past” of a target.
“You’re asking me to be a corporate spy?!”
Luo blurted out, “I don’t have much experience with this kind of work.”
Wen Ying encouraged him, “It’s not much different from tailing Yu Wenhao. You’ve already investigated this guy, just dig deeper now.”
“Zhao Dong?”
“Yep, that’s him.”
Luo cautiously asked, “Can’t you just tell your uncle about this directly?”
“Doesn’t seem like I can.”
The Yu Wenhao father-and-son issue was still unresolved. Telling Deng Shangwei would only add to his worries.
Besides, explaining why Zhao Dong was targeting her would mean revealing Xie Qian’s family matters.
Xie Qian didn’t mind sharing these with her, but he hadn’t given her permission to broadcast them.
“If he’s done something, we can look into it. If he’s law-abiding, I’m not going to frame him. What are you afraid of, Detective Luo?”
Wen Ying reassured Luo repeatedly, though he remained half-skeptical.
No framing, really?
—This girl is too assertive and far too bold!
In the end, Luo accepted Wen Ying’s commission. If he handled it, he could keep things measured. If Wen Ying hired someone else, who knows how far she’d take it?
After hanging up, Wen Ying went upstairs and found dinner already set out at home.
Wen Dongrong had stewed a pork knuckle, made braised fish, and stir-fried two side dishes, arranging a proper dinner.
Seeing Wen Ying return, Chen Ru told her to wash her hands and eat, casually asking, “Where’d you go today?”
“Went to the amusement park with a classmate. Hey, Dad’s braised fish is pretty good—got a bit of your skill!”
Chen Ru had meant to ask if it was a male or female classmate, but Wen Ying’s flattery sidetracked her. She said half-heartedly, “It’s barely edible.”
Wen Dongrong brought out the final dish, and Wen Ying whispered, “You should encourage Dad more, or what if he stops cooking?”
Do it or don’t!
Chen Ru nearly snapped but swallowed her words.
Since Wen Ying’s high school entrance exams, the family of three rarely sat down for a harmonious meal. Chen Ru couldn’t bear to ruin the mood.
Wen Dongrong had likely smoothed things over with Chen Ru, and the couple had called a truce, turning their attention to Wen Ying. During dinner, they asked if she could keep up with the experimental class. Wen Ying said she was managing.
“It’s the first week, and I’m not familiar with the teachers yet, still adjusting to their teaching styles.”
In truth, Wen Ying was familiar with most of the teachers. The only change was Lin Lin. In her previous life, an older teacher taught Chinese; this time, it was Lin Lin.
Teacher Lin was easygoing off the clock but strict in class, with a high teaching standard. Being the experimental class’s homeroom teacher at such a young age wasn’t just due to Vice Principal Guo Xia’s connections.
Wen Dongrong thought for a moment. “You and your mom agreed that if your grades slip, you’ll quit that business you’re running with your friends. Does that still stand?”
“Of course it stands. Just watch—I’m a person of my word.”
The implication was clear: she hoped her parents would also keep their word and not interfere with her “extracurricular life” as long as her grades held steady.
Chen Ru started to speak, but Wen Dongrong gently shook his head.
Wen Dongrong had consulted some friends with kids, who said children Wen Ying’s age often clashed with their parents.
At this rebellious stage, the more parents pushed, the worse it got. Force wouldn’t work—only strategy would.
